Painting Bluegill jigs

I think I found my bluegill jig pattern and wanted to share how I make them since little bluegill are the main bait fish in many of the lakes that I fish. It's a four color pattern. First base coat is silver crinkle followed by pearl pepper. After dipping both colors I brush tap candy orange top and bottom and last is light blue similar to a robin's egg. After applying all four colors I reheat jig for a couple seconds and using my half hitch tool tip I swirl the paint around on the head. Looks kind of rough but baking mixes and smooths everything out. This half hitch method will work with just two colors as well. Dip two colors and start cutting grooves in paint while it's still hot. Then bake.Attachment 483105Attachment 483106Attachment 483107Attachment 483108Attachment 483109

They look fantastic! Thanks for sharing your methodology with us

Those look really good Jim. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Love them!

Great looking jigs. What would be your estimated time to have those jigs fish ready?

It only takes about 30 seconds or less per jig to paint. Usually a batch of 45 or so depending on hook size takes a couple hours to paint, bake and glue eyes on. I heat the head a bit more and paint all my heads with a Bic lighter for about ten seconds with a 1/8 jig then dip, dip, brush tap last two colors. Then reheat 2-3 seconds then take half hitch tool and swirl it around the jig as the paint cools and starts to harden. Half hitch tool will have a little ball of paint on the tip which I pull off and then stick the half hitch tool through the hook eye then set aside to cool while I paint the next one. I always start with a cold oven and bake at 350 for 15 minutes once temps hit 350.

Good post I really enjoy seeing something like this on here. We have done the same in the past it’s fun to experiment with all the different powder paint..

Beautiful work!!


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I painted some 1/8 freestyle heads yesterday with #1 hooks. Pictures of them under natural and uv lighting. Almost think a blind fish could see these.Attachment 483361Attachment 483362

Wow! Beautiful and vibrant! :yikes

SWEET! This is the real deal. Always wondered how people would get that motor oil-like color patterns.

Very pretty Jim.

SWEET!